Bicycle cable seal fitting

Abstract

A bicycle cable seal fitting seals a portion of an inner wire that is connected to a cable-operated device casing. The bicycle cable seal fitting includes a mounting member and an elastic seal member. The mounting member has a fastening portion to be fastened to the casing, and an inner wire guiding passage with a funnel shaped section that widens as it extends towards the fastening portion. The seal member includes an attaching portion, and a seal portion forming a sealing passage that communicates with the inner wire guiding passage. The seal portion includes a first section with a first width and a second section with a second width that is smaller than the first width of the first section to contact an outside surface of the inner wire passing therethrough. The first section is disposed between the funnel shaped section and the second section.

1 . A bicycle cable seal fitting for sealing a portion of an inner wire passing into a cable-operated bicycle component casing, the bicycle cable seal fitting comprising:
 a mounting member including a tip portion, a fastening portion configured to be fastened to the cable-operated bicycle component casing, and an inner wire guiding passage configured to guide the inner wire though the tip portion and the fastening portion, the inner wire guiding passage having a funnel shaped section with a transverse width that widens as the inner wire guiding passage extends away from the tip portion toward a free end of the fastening portion; and   an elastic seal member including an attaching portion coupled to the tip portion of the mounting member, and a seal portion configured to form a sealing passage that communicates with the inner wire guiding passage, the sealing passage including a first section with a first transverse width and a second section with a second transverse width that is smaller than the first transverse width of the first section to contact an outside surface of the inner wire passing therethrough, the first section being disposed between the funnel shaped section of the inner wire guiding passage of the mounting member and the second section of the sealing passage, the transverse width of the funnel shaped section widening as the inner wire guiding passage extends away from the second section of the sealing passage.   
   
   
       2 . The bicycle cable seal fitting as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the seal portion has a length equal to or greater than 6 millimeters and less than or equal to 15 millimeters. 
   
   
       3 . The bicycle cable seal fitting as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the elastic seal member is made of a styrene based elastomer. 
   
   
       4 . The bicycle cable seal fitting as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the elastic seal member is made of a styrene based elastomer. 
   
   
       5 . The bicycle cable seal fitting as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the tip portion of the mounting member includes a generally cylindrically shaped attaching part for attaching the attaching portion of the seal member to the tip portion of the mounting member. 
   
   
       6 . The bicycle cable seal fitting as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the cylindrically shaped attaching part has an annular flange with a larger diameter than any other portion of the cylindrically shaped attaching part. 
   
   
       7 . The bicycle cable seal fitting as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the seal portion has a length equal to or greater than 6 millimeters and less than or equal to 15 millimeters. 
   
   
       8 . The bicycle cable seal fitting as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the elastic seal member is made of a styrene based elastomer. 
   
   
       9 . The bicycle cable seal fitting as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the elastic seal member is made of a styrene based elastomer. 
   
   
       10 . The bicycle cable seal fitting as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the seal portion has a length equal to or greater than 6 millimeters and less than or equal to 15 millimeters. 
   
   
       11 . The bicycle cable seal fitting as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the elastic seal member is made of a styrene based elastomer. 
   
   
       12 . The bicycle cable seal fitting as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the elastic seal member is made of a styrene based elastomer.